An insider risk is the potential for harm or loss to an organisation, its assets, or its reputation, stemming from the actions or inactions of an individual with authorised access to its resources. This can include employees, contractors, vendors, or partners. Insider risks encompass both intentional and unintentional behaviours, such as data theft, sabotage, negligence, or failure to adhere to security policies
A recent Cybersecurity Insiders report revealed that in the last year 83 per cent of organisations encountered security incidents linked to insiders, with 48 per cent reporting that insider attacks have become more frequent over the past 12 months. And the associated costs shouldn’t be underestimated. In 2023, the average cost of an insider incident reached $16.2 million, in addition to subsequent reputational harm and the loss of vital customer trust.
But there are steps organisations can take to meaningfully limit insider risk, and while no cyber threat can be entirely prevented, being poised to act in the case of an incident will stand security teams in good stead to minimise potential business impact.
Four Tactics to Limit Insider Risk
1. Adopt a Zero Trust Framework
Zero Trust is a security framework useful for reducing insider risk by fundamentally shifting how organisations manage access and monitor behaviour within their digital estate. Instead of assuming implicit trust for users or devices, Zero Trust requires verification at every stage.
Zero Trust operates on the principle of least privilege, granting users and systems access to only the resources necessary for carrying out their roles. By limiting access, even if an insider’s credentials are compromised or they act maliciously, the scope of potential damage is significantly reduced.
With Zero Trust, access can be granted on a temporary, as-needed basis, ensuring employees and contractors have privileges only when required and for limited durations. This minimises the opportunity for misuse of prolonged access.
2. Implement User and Entity Behaviour Analytics (UEBA)
User and Entity Behaviour Analytics (UEBA) is a powerful tool for identifying and mitigating insider risk by providing deep insights into the behaviours of users, devices, and systems within an organisation’s network. By leveraging advanced analytics and machine learning, UEBA detects anomalies that may indicate insider threats, whether from malicious intent or negligence.
UEBA continuously monitors user activities and establishes a baseline of normal behaviour. It then detects deviations that may indicate potential risks, such as: accessing sensitive data outside of typical working hours, transferring unusually large volumes of data, or logging in from unfamiliar or suspicious locations.
In addition to monitoring individual users, UEBA tracks the behaviour of entities like devices, servers, and applications. This holistic approach helps identify patterns that may not be obvious if only user activities are monitored.
One of UEBA’s strengths is its ability to provide context around behaviours. It helps distinguish between deliberate malicious actions and accidental or negligent mistakes, enabling appropriate responses.
3. Enhanced Employee Training
Employee training can be a proactive, cost-effective measure to limit insider risk. By equipping employees with the knowledge and skills necessary to recognise and prevent security threats, organisations can foster a culture of accountability and resilience, significantly reducing the potential for insider-related incidents.
Many employees are unaware of how their actions can inadvertently lead to security breaches or how malicious actors might exploit them. Training programmes educate employees on the concept of insider threats, the risks they pose, and the potential consequences for the organisation.
Regularly updated training keeps employees informed about the latest threats and reinforces key principles. Interactive simulations, such as phishing tests, allow employees to practice identifying risks in a safe environment.
4. Carry Out Incident Response Planning
An incident response plan (IRP) establishes clear procedures for detecting and containing insider threats quickly, minimising the window of opportunity for damage and business impact. A robust IRP designates specific roles and responsibilities for responding to insider incidents, ensuring an organised and efficient response. This clarity avoids delays caused by confusion or miscommunication during critical moments.
Incident response planning includes creating playbooks tailored to various insider risk scenarios, such as data theft, policy violations, or privilege misuse. These playbooks provide step-by-step guidance on addressing each type of incident effectively. For example, a playbook for detecting a disgruntled employee attempting to exfiltrate data might include isolating their account, securing backups, and initiating an investigation.
A solid IRP ensures that all insider risk incidents are thoroughly documented and investigated. This process helps identify root causes, assess the scope of damage, and improve policies to prevent recurrence.
Insider risks will look different for every organisation, but in each case the balance between mitigating threats and preserving employee trust is a delicate one. Transparent risk management practices that respect privacy are essential for fostering a security-conscious workplace culture. Organisations must stay agile, adopting innovative technologies and refining their strategies to counter increasingly sophisticated threats.
Business data has become increasingly fragmented; shared and stored across a wide variety of productivity apps and communication channels, both cloud-based and on premises. With heightened corporate compliance obligations and an ever-increasing cyber threat landscape, comprehensive information protection and data governance is at the heart of protecting your organisation from attack, both internal and external.
Threatscape’s complimentary Microsoft Purview Advisory Service helps you to understand the data security protections available within your Microsoft 365 license. With a no-obligation consultation with one of our award-winning Microsoft security experts, you’ll receive advice and recommendations on the type of data security risks companies face, and insight into how Purview and other capabilities within Microsoft 365 help defend against those risks.
